Automatic facsimile telegraph system



March 12, 1946. G. H. RIDINGS AUTOMATIC FACSIMILE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM- Filed Jan. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTOR G.H.RIDINGS ATTORNEY March 12, 1946.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15. 1945 FAX. CONTROL EQP'T 6 m xw P m w u m .T u in m l O 6 m 5 m 7 ii 2 3 ii ii 4 2 6 6 R ll 5 7 S r V M 2 2% r a q 6H m INVENTOR G. H. RIDNGS BY v ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 12, 1946 OFFICE AUTOMATIC FACSIMILE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Gal-vice H. Bidings, Summit, N. J.,' assignor to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 13, 1943, Serial No. 472,203

i Cs.

The present invention relates to automatic telegraph systems and more particularly to a novel system and combined apparatus for obtaining record communication in either direction' between a central station and a plurality of outlying stations;

In accordance'with-this invention the central ofice is provided with facsimile recording and control equipment and also with code signaling equipment for generating and transmitting printing telegraph signals. Each outlying station is provided with an automatic facsimile transmitter combined with an automatically operable printing telegraph recorder. Means are provided for insuring non-interfering operation of these facilities with a minimum of delay in handling tramc.

An object of the invention is to provide for automatically handling record communication trafiic by combined facsimile telegraph and printing telegraph apparatus over a single communication circuit.

Still another object of the invention is to proviole facsimile telegraph communication from one or more local or outlying stations to a central office and printing telegraph communication from the central office to one or more outlying stations.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. i is a diagrammatic showing of an auto matic facsimile transmitter and an automatic printer-recorder combined in a single station:

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical features of central office terminal equipment designed to serve one or more of theoutlying stations shown on Fig. l. of the drawings;

3 is a hagmentary perspective view or" a detail of a well known tape transmitter shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For the sake convenience, the circuit ar rangement is illustrated for only one branch office, and only one set of facsimile recording apparatus and code transmitting equipment is shown at the central offlce. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a local station employing a facsimile transmitter to which may he in all respects similar to that disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2.2625115, granted to R. J. Wise et cl, November 11, 1941. The local station also includes a conventional telegraph printer ii of any well known type. The

central ofiice equipment shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings includes facsimile recording and phasing apparatus l2, control equipment M for the apparatus at, a keyboard operated code transmitter l5 and a tape controlled code transmitter it. The facsimile recording apparatus 12 and control equipment it may be identical with similar apparatus shown in Fig. 10 of Patent No.

2,262,715 referred to above. The keyboard transmitter i5 is of the conventional type and the tape transmitter it is or may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,805,374, granted to S. W. Rothermel, May 12, 1931. As the central ofiice equip ment is designed to serve a plurality of outlying stations, each having equipment similar to that shown in Fig. 1, each communication circuit from these stations comprises conductors LI and L2 ending in a jack ll. Each of these jacks is accessible to a plug it, the cord circuit of which is connected to the facsimile recording apparatus i2 and the control equipment It. The conductor Li of the communication circuit shown extends by way of break contact 25 of a relay 22 to a plurality of contact studs 23. These studs and studs 23' of other circuits are accessible 'toa jack i l of an operators cord circuit. The cord circuit comprises a circuit arrangement interconnecting the jack 2 with a winding 25 of a relay as, a relay 2i and a motor contiol relay to of the keyboard transmitter E5 or a motor control relay 29 of the tape transmitter it. The cord circuit and studs iorm a concentration circuit for simplex printers of the outlying stations similar to that shown in Patent No. 1,804,327, granted to H. W. Drake et al., May 5, 1931.

Facsimile transmission from a transmitter to the central office is obtained in the manner fully set forth in Patent No. 2.262.715 above referred to. Briefly, an operator at the transmitter it having a message suitably inscribed on a message sheet to be recorded on the recorder 62 of the central ofiice operates the push button it which completes a circuit from the B bus bar or the power supply source it through the message sheet control switch it and through the operating magnet fi l of the multiple switch to. Certain contacts of the switch it, as more fully set forth in the patent referred to, cause generation of a carrier by the scanning photocell 38 which is amplified by the amplifier ii and transmitted over the line conductors to the jack ll! associated with this machine.

The carrier current is amplified in an amplifler t2 and operates a relay 43 which is included so in the plate circuit of one of the tubes in the amplifier 42. Energization of this relay lights a supervisory lamp 46 at its make contact 41. An additional relay tongue and make contact 68 applies positive signaling potential to line L2 which moves the tongue of the polar relay 69 at the local station to its contact M thereby connecting the locking coil of the switch 36 across the A and B bus bars of the power supply source 32.

The tongues of the polar relay 52 and the polar relay 39 are moved in accordance with signaling potentials applied to the conductors Ll and L2 respectively by the control equipment Ml, in the manner set forth in Patent No. 2,262,715 referred to above, with one exception now to be pointed out. The rotary switch, which corresponds to the rotaryswitch ill in the patent referred to above, is provided with seven studs omitting the message accepted and off positions so that it has seven active positions rather than nine as shown in the patent. Reference character 53 indicates one of the arms of this rotary switch.

To obtain desired operation of the automatic facsimile transmitter lo, the signaling potential maintained on the conductor L2 at the make contact ll! of the relay 33 or by the switch arm 53 maintains energization of the relay 22 so that negative signaling potential is applied to the studs 23 at the make contact 5:3 of this relay. This negative potential appearin on the studs 23 of the line associated with .the busy machine prevents operation of either of the code transmitters E5 or it should the operator connect the jack 2% to one of the studs 23. The circuit extending from the tip 56 of the jack 2 including the winding 25 of the relay 26 terminates at ground after passing through a vacuum tube rectifier 58. It is therefore impossible for an Operator at the central ofiice having a message for an outlying station, the facsimile transmitter of which is in operation, to interrupt facsimile communication which is in progress.

When the facsimile equipment is idle, the relay Z2 is deenergized and a suitable source of positive potential is connected at the break contact M of this relay and a break contact 62 of a slow-torelease relay 63 to the line conductor Li and also to the studs 23 associated with that line conductor.

At the transmitting station the positive potential on the line conductor Ll is applied by way of a set of normally closed contacts 66 of the switch 36 to a control relay 6?, printer selector magnet 68 and a resistor 69 to ground. The relay Bl is a polar relay, the tongue of which normally rests against either contact and does not move except upon a reversal of current flowing through its coil. The relay Bl is connected so that when positive potential is applied to the line conductor LI, the tongue is against the marking contact M and when a negative potential is applied to the line conductor L2 the tongue rests against the spacin contact S. This relay does not respond to interruptions in the flow of current through its winding.

A printer operator at the central station having a message to be transmitted to the printer M will connect the jack 241 to the stud 23 nearest her position which will cause energization of the winding 25 of the relay 26 by way of vacuum tube 58 when a cam switch 12 operated by a rotary cam 13 is closed. The function of the cam switch will be described later on. Current flowing in the tip circuit of the jack from the potential source connected at the break contact Bl of the relay 22 will energize a relay 74 which will energize the relay 63, by way of the make contact 15. The tongue of the relay 63 will apply positive potential to the conductor L2 from the make contact 18 thereby locking the switch 36 at the facsimile transmitter 50. Operation of the relay '63 will be maintained in spite of subsequent interruption of current flowing in the coil of the relay M as said relay 63 is a slow-to-release relay.

Energization of .the relay 26 will completea circuit at its make contact 76 from ground at the switch 72 through the jack spring '57, through the locking coil 78 of the relay 26, the winding of the relay 21, the motor control relay 28, the switch arm '59 of the double throw switch PM to a battery or other suitable source of energy. The switch ti is provided for selecting either the keyboard transmitter 55 or the tape transmitter it for operation. The switch 8E may, for convenience, remain in the right hand or keyboard position. A marginal relay 82 adjusted to operate on higher than normal values of current does not operate at this time. The relay 21 operates and opens the circuit including the operating coil 25 of the relay 26 and its break contact 86. This results in disconnection of the tip contact 56 of the jack 2% from the-operating coil 25 of the relay 2%. A make contact 86 of the relay 2'! connects the code signaling contacts 88 0f the keyboard transmitter iii to the tip contact 56 of the jack 24 by way of the coil of the marginal relay 82. The code signalin contacts 88 are connected by way of an arm 89 of the switch Bl through the selector magnet 92 of a local printer 93 to a source of negative code signaling potential. The printer 93 may be of any suitable or desired type and its driving motor may be connected to operate in any suitable manner when the driving motors of either of the code transmitters is in operation.

The negative potential applied at the make contact of the relay 21 is applied to line conductor Li and the resulting current reversal in the coil of polar relay 6? at the outlying station or branch ofiice causes its tongue to move to the S contact. The'printer motor 96 is supplied with energy from a suitable source Ell when the relay 5! is energized by line current flowing from the ne ative signaling current source at the central office. A make contact 99 of a relay 98 short circuits the resistor 69, causing an increase in current flow in the line conductor Ll. Reference character IUI indicates a set of normally closed contacts which may be operated by the usual device in the printer l l for indicating by the ringing of a bell or otherwise that the supply of blank paper or tape at the printer is exhausted. It will be understood that other contacts similar to the contact it]! may be included in the bridging circuit for the resistor 69 and made to open in response to some other condition at the printer, if desired.

At the central oflice the increased current flowing through the coil of the marginal relay 82 causes it to operate, thereby completing the circuit of the keyboard transmitter motor I 0 3 at its make contact 606 and the make contact l 0'! of the motor starter relay 28.

By operating the keyboard of the transmitter I5 in the usual manner, the contacts 88 will set up code combinations to operate the printer H at the local oifice in the usual manner. The polar relay 6? will not respond to these code signaling impulses. The local printer 93 will print a record at the central ofiice of traflic which is being sent to the selected local omce.

The central ofilce operator after completing transmission to the local oflice, disconnects the jack 2 t thereby deenergizing the relay i4 and after a short interval of time the slow-to-release relay 63 releases its tongue'so that positive potential is again applied to line Ll at the break contact 52. The reversal of current flow in the operating coil of the polar relay 6? at the local Office printer ll causes its tongue to move from the spacing contact S thereby stopping the printer motor at and releasing the relay 98. The relays 26, ill and 28 are released thereby shutting down the code transmitting equipment at the central ofiice.

An operator having a message for a local station may, if this local station is busy, punch the message in a tape by an ordinary tape perforator (not shown) which feeds tape to the tape transmitter it. The switch 8| is placed in the tape position. The tape transmitter will not operate during the existence of busy line conditions since a negative potential is placed upon the stud 23 or 23 to which the jack 2 3 is connected either at the relay 22 associated with this stud or by a tape or keyboard code transmitter connected to this line at another position. The operating coil 25 of the relay 26 will not be energized and therefore the operating circuit for the. relays El and 2d will not be completed.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, which shows a detail of the tape transmitter referred .to in Patent No. 1,805,374 above, the cam drive shaft M which operates the code transmitter contacts H6 in succession is provided with 'a clutch Mt which is declutched to prevent operation of the contacts I it when a pivoted stop arm its is engaged against the shoulder of a cam projection urn. With the arrangement shown in the patent referred to, a spring l22 maintains the stop arm lid in contact with the projection lfil when a tape loop operated arm M3 is raised. The arm are cooperates with an extension EM of the stop arm l is. The core i2! of a magnet Md is connected to the extension Ht so that when magnet H26 is energized, the arm lid is maintained against the shoulder i? i, preventing operation of the cam shaft.

Referring again to Fig. 2 of the drawings, with jack 2 3 connected to a busy line and the switch at in its tape" position, the magnet l26 is energized at the break contact I29 of the relay 29.

a When the busy conditionno longer exists, positive potential is applied to the tip 56 of the Jack M which energizes the operating coil 25 of the relay 26. When the cam it operates the switch E2, the relays 2i and 29 are energized in the manner set forth and negative signaling potential is applied to start the motor 96 of the local station printer ll. Automatic operation of the tape transmitter it will be initiated and will continue having a tape transmitter l6, may be provided with a cam operated switch for each tape transmitter.

The nature of the invention will be determined from the foregoing and the scope thereof is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A telegraph system comprising two stations interconnected by a communication circuit, a facsimile telegraph transmitter at one of said stations, a facsimile telegraph recorder at the other of said stations, a code signal controlled telegraph printer at said station having said facsimile telegraph transmitter, a printer code transmitter at said station having said facsimile telegraph recorder, manually operable means at both of said stations for obtaining operation of said facsimile telegraph transmitter jointly with said facsimile telegraph recorder, and means for controlling the operation of said code signal controlled printer automatically solely from said station having said printer code transmitter.

2. A telegraph system comprising two stations interconnected by a communication circuit, a facsimile telegraph transmitter and a code signal controlled telegraph printer normally connected to said circuit at one of said stations, switching means at said station, means including said switching means for automatically disconnecting said code signal controlled telegraph printer from said communication. circuit when said facsimile telegraph. transmitter is operative, and means at said other station for controlling said switching means.

3. A telegraph system comprising two stations interconnected by a communication circuit, a facsimile telegraph transmitter at one' of said stations and a facsimile telegraph recorder at the other of said stations interconnectable over said circuit, a code signal controlled telegraph printer at said station having said facsimile telegraph transmitter and a printer code transmitter at said station having said facsimile telegraph recorder also interconnectable over said circuit, switching means at said stations, and means for controlling operation of said switching means from one of said stations to permit operation of one only of said interconnected recorders and transmitters at a time over said circuit.

until the tape loop is exhausted thereby drawing up the arm i123 and opening a switch Hi to stop operation or the tape transmitter.

The switches H2, H2 and H3 operated by the cam iii are provided to insure that when three tape transmitters are connected to a busy line, only one, depending on which of these switches is closed first, will start and maintain communication when the busy line condition is lifted. The other tape transmitters l8 connected to the line will operate one at a time. It will be understood that more than three operators positions, each 4. A telegraph system comprising a pair of sta tions interconnected by a communication circuit, a signal controlled telegraph printer and a facsimile telegraph transmitter at one of said stations, a facsimile telegraph recorder, a keyboard controlled transmitter and a tape operated transmitter at the other of said stations, 2. control unit for the operating mechanism of said keyboard controlled transmitter, control means for the operating mechanism of said tape transmitter, means for connecting either said keyboard transmitter or said tape operated transmitter to said communication circuit at a time, and means for controlling the operation of said operating mechanism of the connected one of said transmitters in accordance with a condition existing on said communication circuit as established by said facsimile telegraph transmitter and facsimile telegraph recorder. v

GARVICE H. RIDINGS. 

